Dancing on Horseback
Gathered in a half circle eight young equestrians atop multicolored horses bowed their heads for a prayer led by their coach Heidi Ramirez They prayed for multiple things including their own safety given that the synchronized routine they perform while riding sidesaddle in layered embroidered dresses though beautiful is both challenging and potentially dangerous They are Dinast a Charra a gang of escaramuzas from Alvarado who perform intricate competitive riding to music It s traditionally the only all-female event in the Mexican equestrian sport known as charrer a I first encountered the group at Pre-Estatal a qualifying tournament that marks the start of the Federaci n Mexicana de Charrer a s competition season It was their second year competing in the libre open category after participating as juveniles youth since The group members are all still in their teens or early s the group began in Alvarado a rural population that is nearly a third Hispanic outside Dallas-Fort Worth They may still be adapting to adult competition but there s no mistaking their determination Although they re newer than other Texas teams they displayed grit and resilience The association name suggests they re part of a dynasty yet each escaramuza has a unique story The Torres sisters Alejandra and Am rica became interested after their brother with autism Ricardo began equine therapy Valeria Diera once an award-winning barrel racer in U S rodeos traded her cowboy hat for a sombrero after her father encouraged her to reconnect with her heritage Liliana Perez grew up around horses and started riding at which later led her to examination animal science at Tarleton State University with the goal of becoming an equine veterinarian Karla Ramirez born into a long lineage of charros was immersed in the lifestyle since birth her mother Heidi once an escaramuza herself acts as coach What unites them is their unwavering commitment despite the financial and logistical challenges of balancing school work practice and competitions Their average scores at state competitions both in Harwood and the Houston suburb of Katy were points earning them the title of Texas Champions in As winners they traveled to Mexico s national championship in San Luis Potos where very meager U S teams qualified to compete Despite lacking the information and sponsorships of their male counterparts this scrappy crew fundraised and pooled personal tools to cover the cost to journey rent horses and compete They did this all to proudly represent Texas and make their mark on the country their relatives left behind to give them another life This traditional sport rooted in the Mexican Revolution holds profound significance now as debates over immigration and U S -Mexico relations are increasingly fraught For these first-generation Mexican-American women being an escaramuza donning the attire and performing every slide gallop twist turn and punto shout transcends geographical and political borders offering a space for cultural expression that is both deeply personal and collectively a way to celebrate their cross-cultural identity Members practice in Alvarado last spring Karla Ramirez stands with her horse Mil Amores as he rolls in the dirt to cool down Left Kitzia Guevara-Vazquez left a member of La Victoria and Liliana Perez a member of Dinast a Charra hang out together in a Katy parking lot Right Liliana Perez rests with her horse Machete after competing last April in Joshua Nicole Hernandez poses for a selfie with her horse before competition Alejandra left and Am rica Torres get ready in their San Luis Potos hotel room The Dinast a Charra group performs the abanico or fan exercise as they compete in San Luis Potos Last May Valeria Diera warms up her horse The post Dancing on Horseback appeared first on The Texas Observer
